Key points:
- Fishers who use the Narooma Bar say it has become more dangerous in recent months
- Marine rescue authorities are urging boat users to thoroughly assess the bar before entering
- There are calls in the community for the bar to be dredged
New data has revealed the Narooma Bar on the Far South Coast of New South Wales ranks as the deadliest tidal crossing on Australia’s east coast.
The narrow and shallow channel of water has claimed four lives and resulted in six serious injuries in the past decade, according to Transport for NSW.
Data from Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania also showed Narooma to have had the most deaths during the same time period.
A man in his 70s died and a woman in her 60s was taken to hospital after their boat capsized while attempting to cross the bar earlier this month.
A 32-year-old man and a 75-year-old man drowned attempting the same manoeuvre in March 2020.
According to the department, life jackets were worn in all of the fatal incidents.
Former president of the Narooma Sport and Gamefishing Club, Les Waldock, said he had been crossing the bar for more than 50 years and most local fishers weren’t surprised by the bar’s ranking.
“I’ve got a lot of experience crossing the bar but that doesn’t mean to say I’m not scared every time I go over it,” Mr Waldock said.
He said it had become more dangerous in recent months after rough seas changed the bottom of the channel entrance, creating two sandbars.
“It’s become a very dangerous shallow bar,” he said.
“We’ve got a bar that really needs attention and needs looking at and needs more talk from maritime and councils.”
Mr Waldock said a recent scare while crossing the bar left him rattled.
“I had to climb a couple of big waves I thought weren’t there, I was three quarters way out of the bar and they stood up in front of me,” he said.
“They came out of virtually nowhere.
“It shakes you up, you think ‘my god, I thought I did everything right’.”
Marine Rescue NSW zone duty operations manager Glenn Sullivan said it was important to thoroughly assess the bar before crossing.
“If in doubt, don’t go out,” Mr Sullivan said.
“It really comes down to the individual to make that assessment and manage their skill level and level of experience and be able to take care of it there and make that decision whether they go or stay.”
He said education about bar crossing safety was widespread, with officers travelling to different boat ramps in the state, lessons provided while obtaining a boat licence and signed messages in place at bars.
“Going out with a local who is experienced on it and properly assessing the conditions of what it is will help ensure your best possible chance of getting out through there successfully,” Mr Sullivan said.
Mr Waldock said he had quizzed the state government over the possibility of dredging the bar.
He said something needed to be done to make the crossing safer.
He said the crossing was used by dozens of recreational and commercial fishers each day, and conditions could quickly change from calm to treacherous within hours.
“We talk a lot about it and we hear a lot about it but there is very little done about it, if anything,” he said.
Source: ABC News
